MONSTER's BALL (TNA Victory Road 2004)

 Earlier in the night Raven and Monty Brown were shown going stir-crazy having been left in isolation for the 24 hours previous to this match.

Before the match, Scott Hudson is backstage discussing how to ensure the Director of Authorities vote will be legitimate between Vince Russo and Dusty Rhodes. Dusty is currently winning 55.5% to 44.5%. Then Elix Skipper and Christopher Daniels, the members of Triple X, show up and say that they have a new attitude and that they will show America’s Most Wanted no mercy in their match tonight. James Storm is already injured so he will be the weak link in their match tonight (here)

  We get a video package for the Monster’s Ball. Monty Brown made the challenge. Neither Raven or Abyss accepted the challenge, but the match was made anyway. James Mitchell takes over the voiceover duties. Going into Monster’s Ball, the participants must go 24 hours without food or water. Raven is shown in a straitjacket in this preview, and he says the 24 hours of isolation will either give him clarity or drive him insane.

  

Mike Tenay & Don West are on commentary for this match, with Jeremy Borash serving as our ring announcer.

ABYSS VS. MONTY BROWN VS. RAVEN (Monster’s Ball)

TNA Victory Road 2004 (7th November 2004)

The match starts after a quick graphic, with Abyss crocheting Raven on the guard rail as Monty Brown makes his entrance. Abyss sends Raven into the crowd as Monty Brown sets up a table on the other side of the Impact Zone.

  Monty Brown meets Abyss with right hands before getting sent into the ring post. Abyss wanders back into the crowd, but Raven strikes first with right hands. Abyss uses a trash can against both opponents before lifting Raven in a choke. Abyss sends Monty Brown into the ring as we see a hooded figure in the rafters. Abyss hits what he would go on to call the Shock Treatment on Monty Brown. Raven breaks up the pin and he tries to work with Monty Brown. Abyss breaks up the double-team clothesline and goozles both of his opponents. Brown and Raven kick Abyss in the midsection. Raven and Monty Brown hit the ropes, but they both fall to a double clothesline from Abyss, ending up in opposite corners. Abyss sends Raven into Monty Brown. Raven avoids the running splash, but Brown isn’t so lucky. Raven connects with jabs and a discus clothesline before bringing a chair into the ring. Raven took too long, as Abyss boots the chair into his face before Raven has a chance to use it.

Raven superkicks Abyss as he picks up the chair and sends Monty Brown into the turnbuckles. Monty Brown hits them sternum-first before he is knocked down with a clothesline. Raven sets up a chair in the middle of the ring, sending Abyss into it with a drop toehold. Raven covers but Abyss kicks out at 2. Monty Brown is sent into the ropes but he jumps over the drop toehold attempt and throws the chair into Raven’s face. Brown throws the chair at Abyss before clotheslining him over the top to the floor. Monty Brown connects with a running boot to Raven. Monty Brown throws Raven around with a T-Bone Suplex and a Fallaway Slam. Raven pulls the referee in the way of The Pounce attempt by Monty Brown, which is apparently enough for a “holy shit” chant. Abyss misses a haymaker by a mile but Monty Brown sells it anyway. Monty Brown is sent off the ropes but he ducks a clothesline and powerslams Abyss.

Monty Brown calls for The Pounce again, Raven is able to interrupt it after Brown kicks Abyss in the ribs, Abyss hits the Black Hole Slam on Monty Brown and he covers, but the referee is still taking a nap. Abyss decides to look for another weapon to kill some time and he finds a bag of thumbtacks to bring into the match. Monty Brown exchanges right hands with Abyss as Brown is sat on the top turnbuckle, Raven is still taking a breather at ringside. Abyss empties the bag of thumbtacks onto the mat. Another Holy Shit chant. Abyss softens up The Alpha Male with right hands, but Monty Brown blocks the superplex from the middle rope. They continue to brawl until Raven powerbombs Abyss from the middle rope into the thumbtacks! Raven covers for a phantom win, Roody Charles slides in the ring to make the official count and Raven gets 2. Abyss rolls out of the ring as Raven connects with a right hand to Monty Brown. Raven brings another table into the match, setting it up in the corner of the ring.

Abyss is back on the apron, Raven keeps both opponents at bay with right hands, and he knocks Abyss through the table at ringside. Monty Brown has shaken off the cobwebs, though and he sends Raven through the table in the corner with The Pounce for the win.

WINNER: MONTY BROWN

 This match was a nice sprint, but to be honest I was expecting more from these three.The finish was sudden and it didn’t seem to get out of 2nd gear for the run time. It was the first Monster’s Ball match, but both Abyss and Raven can do a lot better in Hardcore rules matches, leaving this as a disappointment. There was also no mention of their 24 hours of Isolation with no food or water from commentary throughout the match. That could be a personal preference though. [* ¾*] 3/10

After the match, Mike Tenay reacts as if Monty Brown just survived a war, and Don West reminds us not to try that at home.

Shane Douglas is shown outside of a limousine, he says he needs to talk to whoever is inside before namedropping Kevin Nash. One of the Harris Brothers enters the view to argue with Douglas before we move on to a recap the TNA fan InterAction event.